Movie Review: The New 'Moana' Should Have Remained Unmade

The live-action remake of Disney's animated musical 'Moana' is met with a critical review, suggesting the film should never have been made. The assessment highlights a perceived struggle by the actors to overcome a deluge of special effects, leading to a narrative that fails to gain traction. The review implies a fundamental misstep in translating the beloved animated story into a live-action format, where the visual spectacle overshadows the storytelling.

Starring Catherina Laga'aia as Moana, the film's creators apparently sought out Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, a prominent figure in the original 2016 animated hit and its 2024 sequel, 'Moana 2.' The review notes Johnson's frequent involvement in mainstream American cinema when exotic characters are needed, hinting at a potentially formulaic casting choice. This reliance on established stars, coupled with an overemphasis on effects, appears to be a central point of criticism, suggesting the remake misses the magic of its predecessor.